Ratio Starter
$19/mo
Scheduling + workflows included
Ratio vs Dubsado — 2026 Comparison
The Dubsado alternative that just works
Dubsado is powerful but turns into a setup project. Ratio gives you the same end-to-end coverage with less configuration, stronger payment operations, modern AI, and no per-brand fees.
Updated April 2026 · Plans and pricing reflect each provider's current public listing.
Dubsado Starter
$20/mo
No scheduling or workflows
Card processing
3.65%
vs 2.9% on Dubsado
Why service businesses switch from Dubsado to Ratio
Dubsado appeals to teams willing to invest hours in setup. But many users report bugs, forced re-logins, and workflows that require multiple drafts to get right. Ratio is more opinionated where it should be — so you spend time running your business instead of configuring your CRM.
Best fit
Who this Dubsado alternative is actually for
- Teams searching for a Dubsado alternative with less setup drag and clearer day-to-day operations
- Service businesses that want workflows, scheduling, and billing on lower-cost plans
- Agencies that need multiple workspaces and team access without add-on brand fees
Why Ratio
What Ratio does differently
Scheduling and workflows on every plan
Ratio Starter ($19/mo) includes scheduling, booking pages, calendar sync, and automation workflows. Dubsado Starter ($20/mo) locks both behind the Premier plan at $35/mo.
Payments and receivables are first-class
Invoice status, payment attempts, ACH settlement tracking, overdue follow-up, refunds, disputes, and collections visibility are central to the product — not a side effect of forms.
AI that actually works
Dubsado has no AI at all. Ratio connects Claude with 200+ MCP tools for querying your data, creating records, and taking actions by conversation. Plus call intelligence that creates CRM records from phone calls.
Conditional workflow logic
Ratio workflows support branching, approval gates, and scheduled sends. Dubsado has no true conditional logic — workflows are linear and cannot send to multiple recipients.
No per-brand or per-user fees
Ratio Growth ($49/mo) includes 3 workspaces and unlimited team members. Dubsado charges $10/month per extra brand and $25/month for 4-10 users.
Cleaner data model
Leads, clients, contacts, projects, invoices, proposals, and contracts are separate but linked entities. Dubsado bundles everything into forms and workflows that become hard to untangle as you grow.
Switch in a day
We'll move your clients over from Dubsado
Drop in a Dubsado export and Ratio maps the columns automatically — clients, contacts, addresses, all of it. Most teams are sending invoices the same afternoon.
Feature comparison
Ratio vs Dubsado — feature by feature
Ratio leads in 21 of 39 compared features.
Pricing
| Feature | Ratio | Dubsado |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | $19/mo (all features) | $20/mo (no scheduling/workflows) |
| Full-feature plan | $19/mo (Starter) | $35/mo (Premier) |
| Extra brands/workspaces | Included in Growth ($49/mo for 3) | $10/month per brand |
| Extra users (4-10) | Included | $25/month add-on |
| Card processing fee | 3.65% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| ACH processing fee | 1.8% (max $5) | 0.8% (max $5) |
| Per-seat charges | None | Yes ($25/mo for 4-10 users) |
Invoicing & Payments
| Feature | Ratio | Dubsado |
|---|---|---|
| Online card payments | Yes (Stripe) | Yes (Stripe or PayPal) |
| ACH bank transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring invoices | Yes with autopay | Yes |
| Milestone billing | Yes | Limited |
| Payment plans | Yes (custom schedules) | Basic |
| Collections workflows | Yes (automated, multi-step) | No |
| Payment failure tracking | Yes (real-time status) | Limited |
| Refunds | Yes | Yes |
CRM & Pipeline
| Feature | Ratio | Dubsado |
|---|---|---|
| Lead pipeline | Yes (visual, scored) | Yes |
| Client management | Yes | Yes |
| Separate contacts model | Yes | No |
| Activity timeline | Yes | Yes |
| Custom forms / intake | Yes (questionnaires + custom fields) | Yes (deep form builder) |
Proposals & Contracts
| Feature | Ratio | Dubsado |
|---|---|---|
| Online proposals | Yes | Yes |
| Digital contract signing | Yes | Yes |
| Change orders | Yes | No |
| Questionnaires | Yes (10 field types, public link) | Yes (deep customization) |
Scheduling
| Feature | Ratio | Dubsado |
|---|---|---|
| Booking pages | Yes (all plans) | Premier only ($35/mo) |
| Google Calendar sync | Yes (two-way) | Yes |
| Zoom integration | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic reminders | Yes (all plans) | Premier only |
AI & Automation
| Feature | Ratio | Dubsado |
|---|---|---|
| AI assistant | Claude with 200+ MCP tools | None |
| Call intelligence | Yes (creates records from calls) | None |
| Workflow automation | Yes (branching, approval gates) | Linear only (no conditionals) |
| Email sequences | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-recipient workflows | Yes | No |
Platform
| Feature | Ratio | Dubsado |
|---|---|---|
| Client portal | Yes (full portal) | Yes |
| Time tracking | Yes (global timer + invoice integration) | Basic (beta) |
| Multi-workspace | Yes (built-in) | $10/brand add-on |
| Team roles & permissions | Yes (RBAC) | Basic |
| Mobile app | Progressive Web App (installable) | No native app |
| Platform age | Modern stack, actively shipping | Established, large user base |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ratio cheaper than Dubsado?
At the entry level they are nearly identical — $19/month vs $20/month. But Ratio Starter includes scheduling and workflows, which Dubsado locks behind Premier at $35/month. For teams, Ratio Growth at $49/month includes 3 workspaces and unlimited users. A Dubsado team with 3 brands and 5 users would pay $35 + $20 + $25 = $80/month.
How do processing fees compare?
Dubsado charges 2.9% + $0.30 per card transaction and 0.8% for ACH. Ratio charges 3.65% + $0.30 per card transaction and 1.8% for ACH (capped at $5). For a business processing $10K/month in cards, that is roughly $75/month more on Ratio. This is the one area where Dubsado is cheaper.
Can I migrate from Dubsado to Ratio?
Yes. Export your client data from Dubsado and import it into Ratio. Many Dubsado users report feeling stuck because they invested hours building documents and forms — but the actual data migration is straightforward. Most businesses are operational in Ratio within a day.
What does Ratio have that Dubsado does not?
Time tracking with a global timer and one-click invoice conversion, Claude AI with 200+ tools for managing your business by conversation, call intelligence that creates CRM records from phone calls, conditional workflow logic with branching and approval gates, built-in collections workflows, payment failure tracking, change orders, and multi-workspace without per-brand fees.
What does Dubsado have that Ratio does not?
Dubsado has a deeper form and questionnaire builder, zero transaction markup on payments, and longer track record in the wedding and creative professional market. Its customization depth is unmatched for teams willing to invest the setup time.
How does the day-to-day experience compare?
Ratio is a newer platform built on a modern stack, which means fewer legacy UX quirks and faster iteration on new features. Dubsado has deeper customization options but some users report that the setup investment is significant. Both platforms are actively developed.
Keep researching this switch
Features
Inspect the workflows directly
Docs
Read the operational detail
Use cases
See which business model matches you
Ready to switch?
Try Ratio free — no credit card required
Start with the full feature set at $19/month. Migrate your clients, send your first invoice, and see why service businesses are switching from Dubsado.